Udder Conformation and Milkability of She-Camel (Camelus dromedarius) in EL- Showak, Eastern

Abstract

16 she-camels were chosen from a large herd of camel belonging to the Lahween tribe in Eastern Sudan. The breed is known locally as (Arabi-Lahwee) The animals were sub-divided in to three groups: A, B and C according to the parity order, of 3rd, 4th and 5th parity, respectively, to investigate the correlation between various udder, teats and milk vein measurements with daily milk yield. Despite the increment of daily milk yield with advancing parity order, the results however revealed nonsignificant effect on daily milk yield. The daily milk yield of the three groups was 2.2+0.94, 2.9+0.45 and 3.5+ 2.16 liters, respectively. The daily milk yield in group (A) was sig. (P < 0.05) correlated with udder depth (15.3+1.3 cm), distance between fore teats (12.9+2.9 cm.), and distance between rear teats (9.9 +1.9 cm.). In group (B) measurements including udder height of fore quarters (108.0 +3.0 cm.) and of rear quarters (107.0+ 3.0 cm.) and the distance between the right teats (3.3+ 0.2 cm.) were sig. (P<0.05) correlated with daily milk yield. In group (C) the fore teats diameter (3.1+ 0.4 cm.) and the distance between the right teats (3.7+2.9 cm.) were found to be sig. (P < 0.05) correlated with daily milk yield. Others measurements were found insignificantly correlated with daily milk yield in the three groups. Concerning the fore and rear udder half measurements. The depth of fore quarters was 20.9+0.75 cm. and which was sig. (P < 0.01) deeper than the rear quarters (13.1+0.75 cm.), the results also indicated sig. differences (P < 0.05) between the height of fore and rear udder halves, (110.9+0.36 versus 110.2+0.36 cm, respectively). The distance between teats in the fore quarters (13.2+0.36 cm.) which was sig. (P < 0.01) longer than rear quarters (9.9+0.36 cm.), the teats diameter of the rear quarters (2.5+0.1 cm.) that was sig. (P < 0.01) greater than the diameter of the fore quarters (2.1+0.1 cm). Teat length on the other hand showed non-significant difference between the udder halves. The data pertaining to milk yield and composition of the fore and rear udder quarters documented that rear udder half produced 57.5% of the total milk yield, whereas the fore quarters yielded only 42.5% (P < 0.01). The rear quarters produced milk, which was highly sig. (P < 0.01) richer in protein% (3.38+0.19) and P% (1.077+0.022), and sig. (P<0.05) richer in moisture% (90.42+0.34), K% (1.25+0.032) and pH (6.38+0.043), also scored high but non-sig. values in fat% (3.31+0.18) and Ca% (7.169+0.034). While milk from the fore udder quarters scored highly sig. (P<0.01) value in lactose% (3.25+0.3), sig. (P < 0.05) value in total solids% (10.44+0.312) and high but non-sig. values in Na% (0.64+0.012) and ash% (0.59+0.027). Concerning the amount of nutrients contained milk from rear quarters provided higher amount of nutrients compared to milk of fore quarters. In this study neither parity order, body weight groups nor milking time (morning and evening) not showed any sig. impact on milk stimulation interval (MSI). For the 3rd, 4th and 5th parity orders MSI was 116.4+21.5, 127.0+42.8 and 109.8+7.7 seconds, respectively (means 116.3+12.7 seconds). Body weight groups scored 113.8+18.2 and 118.9+18.9 seconds for <500 and >500 kg, respectively, and at morning and night time reported 68.1+5.4 and 70.9+73 seconds, respectively as MSI. Milk yield (MY) (912+119.6 ml), milking duration (MD) (78.2+4.2 sec.), udder measurements including size, depth, circumference, teat length and diameter showed negative and non-sig. correlation with MSI. While body weight (517.9+19.3 kg) was positively and sig. (P < 0.05) correlated and milk flow rate (11.7+1.3 ml/sec) reported positive and non-sig. correlation with MSI. Sig. (P<0.01) variations in the measurements of the udder depth, circumference, size, teat length and teat diameter before and after milking were observed.